Nine Saitama Gas Stations Robbed during 4-hour Spree

Police said Thursday they are looking for two men who are suspected of robbing nine gasoline stations in Saitama Prefecture during a 4-hour period on Wednesday morning.

According to police, the first robbery took place at about 1 a.m. at a gas station in Uesato-cho. Surveillance camera footage showed two men in masks breaking into the office with a crowbar, NTV reported. Police said they were unable to open the office safe and eventually left the scene.

Eight other robberies occurred over an 80-kilometer distance until 5 a.m., police said. Two cash boxes containing 240,000 yen each were stolen from a gas station at Fukayashi. Robberies were also reported in Kawagoe. In all, the financial losses were estimated at 750,000 yen, police said.